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Thursday, May 7, 2015

7 of the Deadliest Insects on Earth

Insects were the first few living organisms to have ever walked the planet, but most of us are really not big fans of them. Creepy crawlies scare us, and some of them are actually quiet deadly. Although insects would commonly just runaway when confronted, some of them will bite or attack when threatened.

Below are 7 of the deadliest insects on the planet, and some of them might be found in your back yard.

Hemiptera

Also known as the kissing bugs, they’re considered as “true bugs”. These insects commonly feed on plants, but some species do feed on the blood of large animals. What makes them deadly is that they’re known to transmit the Chagas Disease, which takes time to develop but affects the person’s digestive system, nervous system, and heart.

Asian or Giant Japanese Hornet

These hornets have got to be the stuff of nightmares for most people. They can grow to around 3 inches long and live in nests composing of 20 to 30 individuals. A single sting can hurt a lot because of toxins, which is actually powerful enough to dissolve human tissues, and it’s fatal for those who have allergic reactions. Unlike bee stings, hornets are able to sting repeatedly, adding to their danger factor.

Siafu

Siafu or African Ants may not be as scary when they’re alone, but try taking on twenty million of them. Colonies of these ants have been known to take out vegetation in the African countryside. If they run out of food, the members will stop at nothing to ensure their colony’s survival just to get sustenance. Their bites can cause asphyxiation and 20 to 50 people are reported to die yearly because of these ants.

Wasps

Wasps, in general, are very dangerous. They’re social creatures, living and hunting together. They’re very territorial and protective of their nests. Not to mention that they can sting multiple times since their stingers don’t fall off like bees. Many people are allergic to their stings and there have been some cases where a person died because of one sting.

Locusts

Even the bible says that these insects are dangerous. Although they can’t kill humans directly, these insects are known to wipe out acres and acres of fields of crops. They can strip the land barren and a single swarm, composed of thousands of locusts, can finish off a field in a short amount of time. This results to starvation in the area.

Fire Ants

These ants usually nest in soil or sand, building large mounds and feed on plants and the occasional small insect that comes their way. However, when these ants are bothered, they bite. The sting from their pincers is venomous and results in a burning sensation, hence their name. The bite swells up and becomes more painful. Deaths have been recorded because of these ants and millions of dollars worth in damage in crops.

Mosquitos

They may be tiny, but these bugs are terrible. Since they live off blood, they end up transmitting all sorts of illnesses, specifically Malaria. A huge number of people still get infected, and some die, due to malaria especially in tropical areas.